The Senate has called for a thorough investigation into the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo, which claimed 32 lives last Monday.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Sen. Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, during Tuesday’s plenary.
Ngwu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Air Force, drew the attention of lawmakers to the crash involving an ATR-42 aircraft with tail number NGR 931 on Oct. 5.
The Senate urged the NAF and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to conduct a thorough, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the crash and make the findings public.
It also mandated its Committees on Air Force and Aviation to visit the crash site, engage relevant Air Force authorities and assess the serviceability and airworthiness of military aircraft.
The Senate further urged the Federal Government to prioritise funding for regular aircraft maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft to safeguard the lives of military personnel.
Moving the motion, Ngwu said the aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when it crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo.
He said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m., while attempt to reach it by radio proved unsuccessful before the wreckage was located during a search-and-rescue operation.
The lawmaker described the incident as one of Nigeria’s deadliest military aviation accidents in recent years, raising concerns about flight safety and the operational readiness of military aircraft.
He expressed concern over recurring military air crashes that had claimed the lives of officers and other personnel, stressing the need to examine aircraft maintenance, ageing fleets, operational safety procedures and airworthiness.
Contributing to the motion through an additional prayer, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo) called on the NAF to submit details of its budgetary provisions for aircraft maintenance to the Senate through the relevant committee.
Oshiomhole said the Senate needed to establish the amount allocated for the maintenance of the aircraft involved in the crash.
Seconding the additional prayer, Sen. Titus Zam (APC-Benue), representing Benue North-West Senatorial District, said the investigation should also examine the resources allocated to aircraft maintenance and determine whether the funding was adequate.
Zam stressed the need to establish the amount provided for maintenance and whether it was sufficient to prevent such incidents.
The Senate subsequently observed a one-minute silence in honour of the victims and commiserated with President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Air Staff, the NAF, the Ondo State Government and the bereaved families.
NAN